Rigid Neckwear Assemblies

ABSTRACT

Decorative neckwear assemblies are disclosed that include a rigid portion that comprises a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, side faces, and a plurality of apertures. The rear face includes a contact surface that is substantially planar and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face. The assembly may include a retaining strap configured to engage the plurality of apertures of the rigid portion and attach the rigid portion to a user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to decorative neckwear, and more particularly to rigid bowties and neckties.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Decorative neckwear, such as neckties and bowties, are often worn by both men and women. Such neckwear is commonly made out of fabric or other flexible materials that may conform to the attachment area on a user or user's clothing. Neckwear assemblies that include rigid portions may not sit in an aesthetic manner against a user or user's clothing, or may be uncomfortable to wear.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed herein are aspects, features, elements, implementations, and embodiments of rigid neckwear assemblies.

In one implementation, a decorative neckwear device comprises a rigid portion that includes a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, and side faces. The rear face may include a contact surface that is substantially planar and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face.

In another implementation, a decorative neckwear assembly comprises a rigid portion that comprises a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, side faces, and a plurality of apertures defined through the rigid portion, wherein the rear face includes a contact surface that is substantially planar and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face. The assembly may further include a retaining strap configured to engage the plurality of apertures of the rigid portion and attach the rigid portion to a user.

In yet another implementation, a decorative neckwear assembly comprises a rigid portion that comprises a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, side faces, and a pair of apertures. The rear face may include a contact surface that is substantially planar, symmetric about a center axis, and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face such that contact surface connects to the upper face at a first distance from the front face, and connects to the lower face at a second distance from the front face, and the first distance is less than the second distance. The assembly may further include a retaining strap configured to removably attach the rigid portion to a user in an attached position, wherein the retaining strap is configured to pass through both apertures such that a display portion of the retaining strap extends along the front face spanning between the pair of apertures in the attached position.

Variations in these and other aspects, features, elements, implementations, and embodiments of the methods, apparatus, procedures, and algorithms disclosed herein are described in further detail hereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rigid neckwear assembly on a user;

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the rigid portion of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the rigid portion of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the rigid portion of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the rigid portion of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1 about line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view of the rigid neckwear assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the discussion that follows and also to the drawings, illustrative approaches to the disclosed systems and methods are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent some possible approaches, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Further, the descriptions set forth herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the claims to the precise forms and configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description.

Disclosed herein are examples of rigid decorative neckwear. In some embodiments, a rigid bowtie is described, having a front and a rear face, wherein the rear face includes a contact surface. The contact surface on the rear face may be substantially planar and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face. The contact surface and contact angle may allow the rigid bowtie to sit against the neck area of a user that is aesthetic and comfortable. In some embodiments, an attachment strap is included that is configured to pass through apertures defined in the rigid bowtie to attach the assembly to a user.

An exemplary neckwear assembly 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in an attached position to a user. The neckwear assembly 10 generally includes a rigid portion 100 and attachment strap 200. The rigid portion 100 may be in the form of a rigid bowtie as shown in the figures, but other designs are contemplated, such as elongated neckties. The neckwear assembly 10 may be configured such that when in the attached position, attachment strap 200 wraps around clothing 300 near a user's neck, and rigid portion 100 is held in close contact to the user's neck or clothing 300.

As used herein, the term “rigid” as applied to rigid portion 100 may include any construction that substantially resists bending, flexing, or being forced out of a predetermined shape.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, an exemplary rigid portion 100 is shown. Rigid portion 100 may include a front face 102, a rear face 104, a top face 106, a bottom face 108, and side faces 110. Rigid portion 100 may be made from a variety of natural and synthetic rigid materials, including but not limited to wood, metal, carbon fiber, and polymers. Rigid portion 100 may be symmetrical about center axis A in FIG. 2.

The front face 102 of rigid portion 100 may be substantially planar as shown in the figures, but front face 102 may include several shapes incorporated thereon. For example, front face 102 may have a curved and rounded surface. Additionally, front face 102 may have designs incorporated thereon, and may include logo or branding. For example, front face 102 may be painted, etched, or burned to achieve a certain aesthetic design.

In some embodiments, rear face 104 of rigid portion 100 may include multiple surfaces. For example, rear face 104 may include contact surface 112. Contact surface 112 may be substantially planar, and centrally located as shown in the figures. Contact surface 112 may be configured to contact a user's neck or clothing when in the attached position of FIG. 1. For example, when neckwear assembly 10 is attached to a user, contact surface 112 contacts and sits in abutment to the collar of a user's shirt. Contact surface 112 may be symmetric about axis A as shown in FIG. 2.

Rear face 104 may also include contoured surfaces 114 that span from side faces 110 to contact surface 112. In some embodiments, contact surface 112 is not perpendicular to top face 106, bottom face 108, or side faces 110. This may result in contoured surfaces 114 being curved or angled as shown. As depicted in FIG. 4, contoured surfaces 114 may be gradually curved from side faces 110 to contact surface 112. The intersection of contoured surface 114 and contact surface 112 may create a contact edge 116.

In some embodiments, contact surface 112 may be orientated at a contact angle Θ relative to front face 102. That is, if front face 102 and contact surface 112 are substantially planar, contact angle Θ may be the difference in relative orientation, as shown in FIG. 3. Having a contact surface 112 at a different relative orientation to front face 102 may also result in top face 106 having a different thickness than bottom face 108. As shown in FIG. 3, top thickness 118 may be less than bottom thickness 120. In some embodiments, contact angle Θ may be between 10 and 30 degrees.

Contact surface 112 may allow for rigid portion 100 to sit in abutment to a user while front face 102 is orientated substantially vertical. Contact surface 112 may align with a natural angle of a user's neck or shirt collar. For example, if a user plans on wearing neckwear assembly 10 around a neck collar of a shirt, contact surface 112 may align with the angle that extends outwards and vertical at such a location. Contact angle Θ may be chosen to match the natural angle of a location on a user or user's clothing to allow front face 102 to be displayed substantially vertical. Referring to FIG. 7 for example, clothing 300 on a user may roughly define a neck plane 302 extending along an angle. The angle between neck plane 302 and front face 102 may match contact angle Θ.

Side faces 110 may connect front face 102 and rear face 104 at distal ends of rigid portion 100. Side faces 110 may have a side thickness 122 as shown in FIG. 4. Side thickness 122 may be constant as shown, or may vary depending on position along side face 110. Side faces 110 may have a rounded curvature as shown, having a radius R. In some embodiments, the attachment surfaces may have contact edges 116 that have the same radius R, as shown in FIG. 2 for example.

Dimensions of rigid portion 100 may vary depending on a desired appearance. In the bowtie embodiments shown in the figures, a width 140 of rigid portion 100 may be greater than a height 142. For example, width 140 may be 4-5 times greater than height 142. Top face width 144 may be sized less than width 140 to allow for rounded or angled side faces 110. Other designed embodiments are contemplated, such as rigid neckties. For example, a width 140 may be less than a height 142.

In some embodiments, rigid portion 100 may include apertures 130 defined therein to allow for attachment strap 200 to engage rigid portion 100. Apertures 130 may be located such that they extend through front face 102 and contact surface 112 of rear face 104. For example, apertures 130 may extend through front face 102 and contact surface 112 perpendicular to front face 102. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2, for example, may include two apertures 130 each with an aperture width 132 and an aperture height 136. Aperture height 136 may be slightly less than height 142 of rigid portion 100. For example, aperture height 136 may be greater than half of height 142. Apertures 130 may be spaced apart from each other at an aperture distance 134 and be symmetric about axis A as shown.

Neckwear assembly 10 may include attachment strap 200 to retain rigid portion 100 to a user or clothing. As best shown in FIG. 8, attachment strap 200 may include a length of flexible material suitable for extending around a user's neck. Attachment strap 200 may comprise any suitable natural and synthetic material, such as felt, leather, suede, and polymer blends as examples. Attachment strap 200 is shown substantially flat with a uniform width, but it is contemplated other shapes may be used, such as string, cord, twine, or elastic bands. Attachment strap 200 may be sized to be slightly smaller than the dimensions of apertures 130 to allow removal and replacement of attachment strap 200. Attachment strap 200 may include a first attachment end 204 and a second attachment end 206 that are removably attachable. In some examples, first and second attachment ends 204/206 may simply be tied together to attach the neckwear assembly 10. In some embodiments, attachment strap 200 may be continuous and configured to pass over a user's head and neck to retain rigid portion 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, first attachment end 204 may include a hook or clasp configured to engage a second attachment end 206. First or second attachment ends 204/206 may also include other fasteners, non-limiting examples including clips, ties, adhesives, and Velcro®.

Alternative embodiments may utilize other fastening methods to attach rigid portion 100 to a user. In some embodiments, attachment strap 200 may be configured to attach to a user's clothing. For example, attachment strap 200 may include clips to attach to a portion of material of a user's shirt.

FIG. 9 shows a partial top view of the neckwear assembly 10 with rigid portion 100 and attachment strap 200 in an attached position. As shown, attachment strap 200 extends through apertures 130 in rigid portion 100. The attachment strap 200 may be configured to exit the contact surface 112 substantially parallel to axis B, which is substantially perpendicular to front face 102 of rigid portion 100. Proximate to the contact surface 112 attachment strap 200 may angle away from axis B to allow the rigid portion 100 to be retained on a user's neck. For example, attachment strap 200 may be configured to create attachment angle φ. In some embodiments, attachment angle φ may be between 45 and 120 degrees. An attachment angle in such a range, as oppose to a much larger angle, may allow attachment strap 200 to retain rigid portion 100 in a fixed location due to frictional and tensional forces. That is, rigid portion 100 may not be able to slide or move along attachment strap 200 when both are in the attached position. Additionally, the edges of apertures 130 at contact surface 112 may be configured to interact with attachment strap 200 to provide increase friction to cause rigid portion 100 to stay stationary.

The above-described examples have been described in order to allow easy understanding of the invention and do not limit the invention. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structure as is permitted under the law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative neckwear device comprising: a rigid portion that comprises a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, and side faces, wherein the rear face includes a contact surface that is substantially planar and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface connects to the upper face at a first distance from the front face and connects to the lower face at a second distance from the front face, and the first distance is less than the second distance.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the rigid portion is formed from a material which contains one of the following: wood, metal, plastic, carbon fiber.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the rigid portion further comprises a plurality of apertures defined therein to receive a retaining strap.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of apertures comprise two apertures symmetric about a vertical axis.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the apertures comprise rounded rectangular slots extending through the front face and the contact surface in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the front face.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the contact angle is approximately 10-30 degrees.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface is located in the center of the rear face and symmetric about a center axis.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the width of the rigid portion is approximately 4-5 times greater than the height of the rigid portion.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the side faces are rounded and each side face has a radius.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the contact surface includes rounded contact edges having a contact edge radius, wherein the contact edge radius is the same as the side face radius.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the rear face includes a concave surface connecting the side faces to the contact surface.
 13. A decorative neckwear assembly comprising: a rigid portion that comprises a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, side faces, and a pair of apertures defined through the rigid portion, wherein the rear face includes a contact surface that is substantially planar and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face; and a retaining strap having a length that is configured to engage the plurality of apertures of the rigid portion and attach the rigid portion to a user.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the retaining strap is configured to pass through both apertures such that a portion of the retaining strap extends along the front face spanning between the pair of apertures in a retaining position.
 15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the retaining strap is adjustable in length.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the retaining strap comprises a hook and clasp at opposing ends.
 17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the retaining strap is made from a material that contains one of the following: cloth, elastic, leather.
 18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the contact surface connects to the upper face at a first distance from the front face, and connects to the lower face at a second distance from the front face, and the first distance is less than the second distance.
 19. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the contact angle is approximately 10-30 degrees.
 20. A decorative neckwear assembly comprising: a rigid portion that comprises a substantially planar front face, a rear face, upper and lower faces, side faces, and a pair of apertures, wherein the rear face includes a contact surface that is substantially planar, symmetric about a center axis, and orientated at a contact angle with respect to the front face such that contact surface connects to the upper face at a first distance from the front face, and connects to the lower face at a second distance from the front face, and the first distance is less than the second distance; and a retaining strap configured to removably attach the rigid portion to a user in an attached position, wherein the retaining strap is configured to pass through both apertures such that a display portion of the retaining strap extends along the front face spanning between the pair of apertures in the attached position. 